early life and education
charles shirreff, a deaf scottish painter, specializing in portrait miniatures, was born in either
1749 or
1750. his father,
alexander shirreff, was a wealthy wine merchant of south leith in edinburgh. at the age of three or four, shirreff became deaf and mute. in
1760, his father approached thomas braidwood, owner of a school of mathematics in edinburgh, seeking an education for the boy, then ten years old, in the hope that he could be taught to write.
career highlights
* at the age of 18, in
august 1769, shirreff left braidwood's academy to study art in london at the
royal academy schools. he graduated in
1772 with a silver medal, and took up a career as a miniaturist. * notable associations with artists include
sir joshua reynolds,
george dance the younger, and
richard cosway. * shirreff successfully exhibited oil paintings, pastels, and pencil drawings at the
royal academy of arts in
1771, and at the
free society of artists from
1770 until
1773.
notable works and associations
legacy and later life
*
charles shirreff applied to go to india in
1778, stating in his application to the east india company that he had no speech but was able to make himself understood by signs. * he returned from india in
1808 or 1809 and continued working in london until his death in
1829.
explore charles shirreff's artworks on WahooArt
